Electrical connector

Abstract

A USB connector comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of terminals, a top cover and a front shell. The front shell includes a bottom wall, a pair of side walls upwardly extending from opposite edges of the bottom wall, and a pair of half top walls inwardly extending from edges of the side walls and defining a seam therebetween. The front shell has an exposed insertion end for facilitating insertion of the housing to be inserted thereinto. A strain relief portion extends from a bottom wall of the front shell proximate the insertion end. A carrier is connected to the strain relief portion. In an automatic assembly process, the housing is inserted into the front shell through the insertion end.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrical connector comprising: an insulative housing defining a plurality of passageways;   a plurality of terminals received in the passageways and adapted to connect to corresponding wires, each terminal including a contact strip and a retention portion;   a metallic top cover; and   a metallic front shell being assembled with the top cover to enclose the housing, the front shell including an insertion end, the insertion end being open and exposed for facilitating insertion of the housing into the front shell,   wherein the front shell includes a bottom wall, and a pair of side walls upwardly extending from opposite edges of the bottom wall, a pair of half top walls inwardly extending from edges of the side walls and defining a seam therebetween, a part of the bottom wall proximate the insertion end being exposed for facilitating automation insertion operation of the housing;   wherein the top wall of the front shell defines a pair of openings for engaging with a pair of hooks formed on a front edge of the top cover for securing purposes;   wherein a pair of latching strips extends from opposite edges of the bottom wall and forms outwardly stamped lances for engaging with corresponding windows defined in a pair of lateral walls of the top cover;   wherein a pair of arcuate cutouts is formed in a rear edge of the top wall proximate the side walls of the front shell to engage with and be stopped by a pair of projections formed on a top surface of the housing;   wherein a pair of tabs upwardly extends from opposite edges of the bottom wall and is bent to engage with a pair of retention recesses formed in the housing after the housing is inserted into the front shell;   wherein a stress relief portion is connected to the bottom wall;   wherein the top cover includes a pair of lateral walls forming arcuate edges to define a passage for extension of the wires therethrough;   wherein the retention portion of each terminal includes a wide portion and a pair of wings extending from opposite edges thereof for crimping and retaining the corresponding wire.